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–+ servings
Golden, flaky puff pastry bites topped with creamy cheese, red pepper jelly bites, and fresh thyme served on a teal plate

Cheesy Pepper Jelly Puff Pastry Bites

These buttery puff pastry bites balance creamy cheese with sweet heat for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that disappears fast.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Cooling Time 8 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 220
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Nonstick cooking spray for greasing the pan
  • 1 sheet puff pastry thawed (kept cold until shaping)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese chilled (cut into small cubes)
  • ½ cup pepper jelly any heat level, stirred smooth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or chives finely chopped, optional garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Mini muffin pan 24-cup pan recommended; a standard 12-cup muffin tin can be used with larger pastry squares and doubled filling
  • 1 Rolling pin Used to gently smooth puff pastry seams without thinning
  • 1 Sharp knife or pastry cutter For cutting the pastry into evenly sized squares
  • 1 set Measuring spoons Helpful for portioning pepper jelly evenly
  • 1 Nonstick cooking spray Prevents puff pastry from sticking to the pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 24-cup mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
  2. Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and gently roll just enough to smooth creases without thinning the dough.
  3. Slice the pastry into 24 equal squares and press one square gently into each muffin cup, forming a shallow well.
  4. Bake the pastry shells until lightly puffed and pale golden, about 11–12 minutes.
  5. Cut the cream cheese into 24 small cubes and gently press one cube into the center of each pastry cup, then spoon about 1 teaspoon of pepper jelly on top.
  6. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the pastry is deeply golden and the filling is warmed through, about 8–10 minutes.
  7. Allow the bites to cool briefly in the pan, then remove and finish with fresh herbs before serving warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 55gCalories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 70mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 5mg

Notes

These little bites strike that irresistible sweet-and-savory balance that always gets people hovering near the platter. They’re perfect for holidays, game days, or anytime you want something impressive without stress.

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